Chapter 4.1 Powers and Responsibilities Set up by US Constitution

• The US Constitution was founded on 5 principles

– What was the goal?

• To make a government that would exist forever!

5 Principles of Constitution

Limited Government

Separation of Powers

Checks and Balances

Federalism

Popular Sovereignty

Popular Sovereignty

• The people hold the ultimate authority

• A representative democracy lets the people elect leaders to make decisions for them

Limited Government

• Framers wanted to guard against tyranny

• Government is limited to the power given to them in the Constitution.

• Constitution tells how leaders who overstep their power can be removed

Separation of Powers

• No one holds “too much” power

• Legislative branch makes the laws

• Executive branch carries out the laws

• Legislative branch interprets the laws

Checks and Balances

• US Constitution prevents the abuse of power by one government by another.

• How? – Checks and balances

• Each government has a power over the another.

Federalism• The division of power between State and

National Governments– Best of both worlds…. Sort of.

– How does it work? • The National Government has the “supreme

power” over all of the states

• BUT, states have rights guaranteed to them as well.

Powers of the federal government given by the Constitution

• 3 powers:

– Expressed powers• Powers written specifically in the Constitution

– Implied powers• Powers that are suggested in the Constitution by the expressed

powers

– Inherent• Powers that naturally belong to any government of a sovereign

nation.

Expressed Powers• Powers that the Constitution specifically grants to

the federal government

• Examples:– Article I, Section 8

• Lists expressed powers of the legislative branch– Make laws– Regulate trade– Declare war, etc.

– Article II, Section 2• POTUS is the Commander in Chief

– Article III, Section 2• Supreme Court has final say on all cases concerning

Constitutional rights.

Implied Powers• Powers suggested by the expressed powers

of the US Constitution

• Examples: – Article I, Section 8

• Gives Congress power “to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper”

– Necessary to ensure they can do their job.

• Sometimes called the elastic clause– Allows Congress to ‘stretch’ its authority in ways not

specifically granted or denied

Inherent Powers• Powers that naturally belong to any

sovereign government

– Not mentioned directly in the Constitution

– Examples: • Right for our government to deal with other foreign

affairs– Such as United Nations, NATO, etc.

Powers Given to State Governments by the US Constitution

• Reserved Powers– Powers given directly to

state governments• Examples:

– Regulate trade within a state

– Establish local governments

– Conduct local elections

– Establish public school systems

Powers shared by federal and state governments

• Concurrent Powers

– Powers that the Constitution neither grants exclusively to the federal government nor denies to the states.

– Examples:• Both federal and states can:

– Establish and enforce laws– Collect taxes– Borrow money

As a review… • Powers within the

Constitution

– Expressed powers

– Implied powers

– Inherent powers

– Reserved powers

– Concurrent powers

– Defeat all Commies!!!